By Katie Kelsall, Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

Katie Kelsell explains each master's program is different based on interests
Prospective students often have questions about whether the MPP or MPA Program is the right fit. In this post, Katie Kelsall discusses the factors to consider when deciding between these programs.

Harvard Kennedy School offers four master’s degree programs for students interested in fulfilling our mission to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. 

It is often easy for prospective students to determine whether the MC/MPA or MPA/ID aligns well with their interests and backgrounds, but differentiating between the MPP and MPA can be more complicated. When meeting with prospective students, we are often asked, “What is the difference between an MPP and an MPA? Why should I choose one over the other?”

While both programs are valuable for anyone interested in a career public service, there are several key differences. When comparing our MPP and MPA Programs, prospective students should keep the following components in mind.

 

Admissions Criteria & Prerequisites 

Both the MPA and MPP Programs require students to have a bachelor’s degree with a strong academic background. 

Students may apply to the MPP without work experience or graduate-level coursework. 

Conversely, students must fulfill additional degree program prerequisites to be eligible for admission to the MPA Program. These prerequisites include three years of professional work experience and at least four graduate-level courses similar to those in the MPP core curriculum. In fact, many MPA students come in with another graduate degree such as an MBA or as concurrent degree students. Given the MPA Program’s flexible curriculum (covered more in the next section), we want to ensure that students entering the program are prepared to succeed in a rigorous academic environment from day one.

 

Curriculum 

The MPP Program has a structured core curriculum designed to develop students’ skills in economics, financial management, policy design and delivery, quantitative analysis, and more. This core curriculum equips students to analyze complex public problems and craft concrete policy solutions.  

On the other hand, the MPA curriculum is much more flexible, allowing students to focus on their policy interests from the beginning of their graduate program. MPA students often take courses focused on leadership and management, though MPA students can choose from a range of disciplines and study under virtually any HKS faculty member.  

 

Career Outcomes 

There is some similarity in the roles that MPP and MPA graduates secure after graduation, but there are a few areas of differentiation. 

The majority of MPPs apply their core training, policy interests, and functional skills to roles and organizations in the public and nonprofit sectors following graduation. MPP graduates are equipped to analyze public problems and craft concrete policy solutions—you’ll see from the list of common job titles in the chart below that many MPP graduates take on jobs focused on policy analysis. 

Because MPA students are required to have work experience prior to enrolling, many MPA graduates secure significant leadership roles after graduating. In general, more MPA graduates enter the private sector due to the program’s many concurrent degree students. Many MPA graduates are also social entrepreneurs—in the Class of 2023, 11 MPA graduates started their own ventures after graduation. 

 

At a Glance: Comparing the MPP and MPA Programs

Component

MPP

MPA

Admissions Criteria & Prerequisites

  • Bachelor’s degree

  • Bachelor’s degree

  • Three years of professional work experience

  • At least four graduate-level courses like those in the MPP core curriculum

Curriculum

First year required core courses:

Second year required core courses:

  • Policy Area of Concentration Seminar, including completion of the Policy Analysis Exercise

  • PAC electives

No core curriculum, but students must complete several degree requirements, including:

 

  • Eight credits in a Policy Area of Concentration

  • Four credits in each of these key areas:

    • Economics and Quantitative Analysis

    • Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences

    • Public Ethics and Political Institutions

Career Outcomes

Common roles for MPP graduates include:

  • Senior Associate/Associate/Consultant at a top-tier strategy consulting firm

  • Analyst at a U.S. federal government agency

  • Policy Analyst at an international city

  • Data Analyst at a nonprofit organization

  • Performance Analyst at a large U.S. city

  • Senior Consultant at a government consulting firm

  • Consultant at a development bank 

  • Executive Director at a U.S. city department/initiative

  • Foreign Service Officer

  • Research Fellow at a top university

Common roles for MPA graduates include:

  • Senior Consultant at a large government consulting firm

  • Associate at a top investment firm

  • Consultant at a top strategy consulting firm

  • Senior leader at an international nonprofit organization

  • Director at a U.S.-based nonprofit organization

  • Director of an international national government agency

 

Ultimately, the decision to pursue an MPP or MPA depends on your personal background, preferences, and goals. Prospective applicants should be aware that it is only possible to apply to one master’s program per application cycle, so determining the right program for you is important from the beginning of the application process. 

Interested in learning more? Register for an upcoming admissions event.

In her role as Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Katie Kelsall advises prospective and current MPP students on matters related to admissions and financial aid. 

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